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"A quite exceptional hour of film-making that kept delivering emotional impact to the very end."

– John Grace, The Guardian (UK)

"Devastating in how powerfully it reached into the living heart of our dark past."

– Bernadette McNulty, The Daily Telegraph (UK)

Synopsis

Adolf Hitler did not have children, but what of the families of Hermann Göring, Heinrich Himmler and Hans Frank, to name a few? What is it like for the descendants of these top Nazi officials to deal with the legacy left behind by their notorious families? HITLER'S CHILDREN introduces us to the children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews of these infamous men. Among them Niklas Frank, son of Hans Frank and godson of Hitler, who despises his father's past so much that he has spent his entire adult life researching and writing negatively about him, often touring around Germany to lecture against his father and the Nazi regime. And Bettina Göring, the great-niece of Hitler's second in command, Hermann Göring, who lives in voluntary exile in Santa Fe, NM and together with her brother decided to get sterilized so as to not pass on the Göring name or blood. These, and many others, discuss how they have coped with the fact that their last name alone immediately raises images of murder and genocide; and how they have reached a balance between the natural admiration and affection children feel towards their parents, and their innate revulsion of their crimes. Some have been more successful than others at achieving that balance, but each bares, for the first time, the scars that their legacy has left them.

Customer Reviews

Jeff in Seattle - Customer ReviewI have never thought about the lives of the descendants of Hitler's regime elites. This is a very powerful documentary. Kept me engaged throughout the film.

lola a. - Customer Review
Although I was thoroughly immersed in this film and at times was moved to tears, at the end - which was anti-climactic in my opinion - I became annoyed and began to wonder why are we still dragging around this extremely sad and tragic saga in our history? Don't we all know by now who these monsters were? And don't we hope and realize that the offspring had nothing to do with what happened THEN? Having watched more than my share of the Holocaust, I tried to put myself in the shoes of the perpetrators children, grandchildren, etc and to imagine the life they lead and the demons they may fight everyday. It seemed that the Jewish man who accompanied grandson Hoess to the camp was not comforted by his journey from his comments at the end. Yes - we all should not forget or tolerate ANY atrocities visited upon any human being. But what choice do we have but to move on and look for a better way. Everyone chooses his or her way of life and battle to fight. I felt the film at least gave us some insight into how the other half is dealing with their legacy.

Hannah Maynard, prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, is leading a trial against a former commander of the Yugoslavian National Army who is accused of the deportation and later killing of dozens of Bosnian-Muslim civilians. When a key witness commits suicide, it looks like the case will unravel, however Hannah refuses to give in. Hoping to uncover new findings, she travels to the witness' burial in Sarajevo and meets his sister Mira who she senses has much more to say than she is willing to admit. Despite threats of violence, Mira reluctantly agrees to testify at The Hague. However, she and Hannah must both risk life and limb to make it to the court, only to discover that there are traitors among their own ranks.

1938, Prague. Emil, a radio reporter, is married to the beautiful Hana, an actress whose new film has catapulted her into fame. As the Nazis come to power, however, Hana's Jewish heritage precipitates her fall from stardom to the bottom of the social ladder. In order to protect her, Emil compromises himself collaborating with the new Nazi-controlled state radio station. But as Emil starts enjoying the attention and respect that had previously evaded him, his fidelity and loyalty towards his wife begin to falter. The assassination of the Third Reich Deputy Protector and a chance encounter on a bicycle bring their lingering marriage to a crisis, possibly sealing Hana's fate.

In German-occupied Paris, a young unemployed Algerian named Younes (played by break-out star, Tahar Rahim) earns his living as a black marketeer. Arrested by the French police but given a chance to avoid jail, Younes agrees to spy on the Paris Mosque. The police suspect the Mosque authorities, including its rector Ben Ghabrit, of aiding Muslim Resistance agents and helping North African Jews by giving them false certificates. At the Mosque, Younes meets the Algerian singer Salim Halali, and is moved by Salim's beautiful voice and strong personality. When Younes discovers that Salim is Jewish, he stops collaborating with the police and gradually transforms from a politically ignorant immigrant into a fully-fledged freedom fighter.

Anna, an investigator in the Israeli military, is ordered to interrogate a senior officer who is alleged to have abused an Arab family. Her questioning is greeted with sarcasm by the accused commander, while her colleagues, including her lover, advise her to stop the case - it is too political, too complex and too notorious. Instead, she fastens her teeth into it, eschewing the approval of her male superiors in favor of morality and justice for the victims. Unfortunately, her idealism against the perceived abuse of power might have far-reaching consequences for everyone involved.

Masterfully edited from nearly 200 hours of footage, PAPIROSEN represents a decade of filmmaking, and four generations of Argentine director Gastón Solnicki's family history, culled from 8mm home videos, a VHS bar mitzvah, and original observational material. His father, Victor, emerges as the lead figure, but Solnicki highlights the entire clan. Beginning with the birth of his nephew, Mateo, and punctuated throughout by interviews with his grandmother, Pola, a Holocaust survivor, the film's scope is simultaneously epic and intimate. PAPIROSEN is a meditation on family, history, the importance of storytelling, and the power of cinema itself.